I Was a Teenage Bigfoot is a short story in The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. It is set around the time of Dead Beat.
Revisiting bigfoot and Harry Dresden is always a fun journey. Mostly, I love Butcher’s translation of who (and what) bigfoot is. The half-blood son of a bigfoot provides even more entertainment, last time Irwin appeared in Harry’s storyline, he was just a small child learning to handle bullies. Now, he’s a teenager, with pretty much the same problems. This time though, the consequences of other’s sapping his energy are a little more extreme and serious.
Harry’s ability to overcome any obstacle that he’s faced with and handle the outcomes of his meddling are admirable. The fact that sometimes he causes the worst of the explosions and troubles just add to the enjoyment of the storyline. His unsuccessful flirtations with the nurse? Well, they just make it far funnier.
Title: Put on a Happy Face Author: Christopher Golden In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Comedy, Easy reading, Fantasy Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Gallery Books Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: He’d asked the demon Polichinelle for his heart’s desire – to be the funniest clown in the circus.
Benny wants to be the funniest clown in the circus, but how far will he go to achieve his dreams?
We all know the quintessential class clown. Some people think they’re funny. Some think they’re irritating. Some just ignore them. But, regardless of our approach to such people, we all have a memory of someone who, at the very least, thought that they were funny (and in some cases, were).
Benny, the hero of this short story is one such person – a class clown. Who eventually becomes a clown. And then makes a deal with the devil…
As with all of the short stories that I love, there was a surprise ending. And, it left me laughing quietly, in a slightly sick, sadistic, twisted kind of way…
Title: Iron Kissed Author: Patricia Briggs Series: Mercedes Thompson #3, Mercy-verse #12 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Werewolves Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Ace fantasy Year: 2008 5th sentence, 74th page: The magazines on the bottom shelf had given up any pretense of art – judging by the photos on the covers.
I could smell her fear, and it satisfied something deep inside me that had been writhing under her cool, superior gaze. I curled my upper lip so she could get a good look at my sharp teeth. I might only weigh thirty or so pounds in my coyote shape, but I was a predator…
Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape – but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it’s up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not.
Mercy’s loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can’t decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her…
This is both one of my favourite, and least favourite books. Mostly because of the fact that it features sexual abuse. The very ending of the book makes me cry every single time. Not just because of the horrors that Mercy is forced to face, but also because of the fact that she has an amazing support system. And, that you finally find out what has happened in Ben’s past to make him such a dick.
Where Moon Called was about werewolves, Blood Bound about vampires, Iron Kisseddelves deeper into the world of the fae. Zee’s calling in of a favour (much like Stefan’s) leads to a world of pain, and Mercy’s further discovery of the things that truly go bump in the night. I love that there is a lot of well-informed bases upon the lores of the fae. But, Briggs is able to bring it to a modern setting and in a way that makes it almost plausible to believe that the fae could be existing alongside us.
Iron Kissed forces Mercy to not only begin to face her past, but it also forces her to make a choice about her future. Sam and Adam have been vying for her attention since Moon Called, and she needs to make a choice before it all ends in bloodshed. Sometimes a good love triangle is fun in a story, but the fact that Mercy is so quickly forced into a decision in this series, actually is more enjoyable. I loved the fact that she is kind of indecisive, but there is also a lack of the back and forth that is present in a lot of series. Don’t get me wrong, that is fun. But it’s also nice for a romance to start quite early in a series.
Under the rule of science, there are no witch burnings allowed, no water trials or public lynchings. In return, the average law-abiding, solid citizen has little to worry about from the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes I wish I was an average citizen…
Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places – and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.
But this new vampire is hardly ordinary – and neither is the demon inside of him…
The hits keep rolling for Mercedes Thompson. After asking for Stefan’s help in rescuing Adam, she has to return the favour. Which, since this is Mercy Thompson, means that things go wildly out of control. This might be the story in the entire series that gave me the most goosebumps actually. And I have, at some point or other, read most of them.
There is something about vampires that is kind of scary. Or at least, well written ones. Although Stefan drives a Mystery Van, and obviously cares for Mercy, he is kind of intimidating throughout this. There is a reminder that although he is “one of the good guys”, he’s still a vampire. He’s still evil and has to subsit on others’ deaths and blood. Mercy’s introduction into this world, of which she knows nothing, is intense and terrifying. The added complication of Samuel’s sudden return to her life, and Adam’s pledge of affection just help to raise the stakes higher and higher.
Where Moon Called was about Mercy’s interactions with the werewolves, and introduced Briggs’ hierarchy, Blood Bound is about the vampires. As Mercy slowly discovers more and more about the intricacies of vampire politics, so do we, and it is certainly an amazing journey. Her ability to somehow overcome dangers and predators far greater than herself and her willingness to do anything to save her friends is a testament to how amazing this heroine is.
Title: Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African Women Who Helped Win the Space Race Author: Margot Lee Shetterley Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Biographies, Feminism, History, Memoirs, Science Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: William Collins Year: 2016 5th sentence, 74th page: If Dorothy Vaughn had been able to accept Howard University’s offer of graduate admission, she likely would have been Claytor’s only female classmate, with virtually no postgraduate career options outside of teaching, even with a master’s degree in hand.
GENIUS HAS NO RACE. STRENGTH HAS NO GENDER. COURAGE HAS NO LIMIT.
The phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space.
Before John Glenn orbited the earth or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, some of the brightest minds of their generation, known as ‘human computers’, used pencils and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.
Starting in World War II and moving through to the Cold War and the Space Race, Hidden Figures is a powerful, revelatory tale of race, discrimination and achievement in the modern world. Now a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst and Kevin Costner.
I bought this book because I’ve seen the ads for the movie. I, as always, wanted to read the book before I watched the movie – there’s just something far more satisfying about reading the words before watching the adaptation. And I was not disappointed in the slightest. Although this is a pretty heavy going book. At least for someone like me, who has almost no knowledge of American history and, more specifically, the challenges faced by African-Americans throughout the past.
I love the world of science and maths, you don’t agree to do an undergrad and postgrad degree in the area if you don’t! NASA, however, has always been a bit of an abstract interest – I’m more into the environmental aspects of science than the physics. But, after reading this, I want to find out more about the contributions that NASA has provided the rest of the world. The fact that it was a great way to break down social and racial stigmas kind of made it all the more appealing. And this is including the role of Langley and its conception in WWII.
One of the things that I loved about this book was that it didn’t just focus on one or two women. Rather, there was a whole slew of women who contributed to the space race, and this is reflected by the telling of their stories. Although three main women continued to appear again and again, there were a number of other individuals who were mentioned and illuminated throughout this story.
For anyone with an interest in politics, equality, science, maths, or just really likes a good story, I would definitely recommend this novel! It certainly opened my eyes (and my mind).
Title: Devil’s Contract Author: E.S. Magill In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Comedy, Easy reading, Fantasy Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Gallery Books Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties and may not be modified except in writing executed by both parties.
Are you ready to make a deal with the devil? Here’s the contract!
I hate signing contracts. They’re legally binding, and either too boring or convoluted to read. Which is exactly the fear that this short story (of a sort) taps into. Actually, the thing that I loved most about this short story is how witty it is. And how much it taps into our approaches to contracts and legislation. And the global take over of some big companies…
This is truly a devil’s contract and I giggled the entire way through it. Software and technology is the backbone of society today, and it would be incredibly easy (and often imagined) to take over the world using our dependence upon it.
Although I found this story incredibly funny, I also found it a little worrying. It is almost a satirical comment on how we approach the world and a warning against what can become of us and our society.
Title: Dangerously Divine Author: Deborah Blake Series: Broken Riders #2, Baba Yaga World #5 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fae, Mythology, Paranormal romance Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Berkley Sensation Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: Even from halfway across the room, she could tell that something wasn’t right.
The Riders: Three immortal brothers who kept the Baba Yagas safe, now stripped of their summons to protect. But fate is not finished with them – and their new callings are even more powerful…
Though his physical wounds have healed, Gregori Sun, the eldest of the Riders, reamins in spiritual turmoil. His search for his mother, the one person able to heal his soul and save his life, is failing – until he crosses paths with a beautiful and fascinating librarian who might be the key to his salvation…
Ciera Evans’s bookish ways are just a guise. The product of a difficult past, she has dedicated her life to saving lost teens – by any means necessary. She works alone, but when a dark, brooding stranger proposes they team up to solve both their problems, she is tempted – in more ways than one…
After Ciera and Sun’s plans are derailed by dangerous enemies, they find themselves entangled in an ungodly affair – one that will force them to find new strength together, or be forever haunted by their pasts alone.
I read this story in a day. Which is always a good indication that it was amazing and I loved it. Alright, I’ve basically done this with each of the stories set in the Baba Yaga universe, but there was something about Dangerously Divine that I especially loved. Maybe it was the fact that although there was still the aspect of the Otherworld throughout, it didn’t have as large a place in the storyline. Something a little different to the other tales in this series. There were no journeys into the Otherworld, and, although there are gods and goddesses throughout, the fact that the entire story is based in one city with some very mortal enemies was a great change of pace.
After meeting Gregori a little better in Dangerously Charming, it was hard to imagine what kind of woman he would end up with. Honestly, I had kind of imagined somebody who was immensely spiritual, and maybe a little bit of a hippy. Ciera is nothing like that. And her tragic past just make her all the more engaging as a heroine. I’ve loved every one of the women and characters throughout the Baba Yaga series, but the fact the Ciera was from such a troubled past, and battled her own inner demons as much as Sun does kind of made me lover her the most.
Ciera and Gregori’s battles collide in this great book, and, ultimately deal with a serious issue in our culture. Drugs, homelessness and violence collide with freak snow storms, mystical healing abilities and a sense of justice that prevails above all else. This intense collision is one that is going to stick with me for a long time. It was everything that I want in a good paranormal romance.
Title: Dangerously Charming Author: Deborah Blake Series: Broken Riders #1, Baba Yaga World #4 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fae, Mythology, Paranormal romance Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Berkley Sensation Year: 2016 5th sentence, 74th page: He leaned down to pocket the ball.
The Riders are three immortal brothers who protect the mythical Baba Yagas. But their time serving the witches has ended – and their new destinies are just beginning…
Ever since a near-fatal mistake stripped Mikhail Day and his brothers of their calling to be Riders, Day has hidden from his shame and his new, mortal life in a remote cabin in the Adirondack Mountains. But when a desperate young woman appears on his doorstep, he cannot resist helping her – and cannot deny how strongly he’s drawn to her…
For generations, women in Jenna Quinlan’s fmaily have been cursed to give up their first born child to the vengeful faery Zilya. When Jenna finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she is determined to break her family’s curse and keep her baby, even if it means teaming up with a mysterious and charismatic man with demons of his own…
To unravel the curse, Jenna and Day will have to travel deep into the Otherworld. But the biggest challenge of the journey might not be solving an ancient puzzle but learning to heal their own broken hearts…
I liked that the point of view was switched a little in this story. The Baba Yaga stories had a strong female lead who travelled around (and then eventually found their loved one). I loved this fact, but after three novels, a change was certainly needed. Dangerously Charming provided this, but kept me in the world that I have fallen madly in love with.
Following the first of the (now mortal) Riders, Dangerously Charming still has a strong female lead. It still has all of the paranormal and mythological aspects that I have fallen for. But, it has a differently damaged lead – a now mortal immortal. It also took someone who was damaged and trying to find a new way in life and helped them to find the way. Yes, this is still a paranormal romance. And it is still predictable that the main characters are going to fall for one another. But really, I don’t mind that kind of predictability. The ways in which they fall, and how they beat the baddy (in this case, a not-so-big, bad faery) are just murky enough that it is impossible to put the book down.
I liked Jenna’s spunk and vulnerability. Pregnancy makes most women emotional (or so I’m told), but somehow she manages to combine this with a strength and gumption that is completely unique. The Baba Yagas are supposed to be strong. And, quite frankly, are expected to be more than a little kick ass, but that’s not expected of a pregnant mortal. Yet, Blake takes these differences and gives Jenna a strength and independence all of her own. One that was actually all the more relatable for the increased vulnerability.
Title: Wickedly Spirited Author: Deborah Blake Series: Baba Yaga #3.5, Baba Yaga World #4.5 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Mythology, Paranormal romance, Witches Pace: Medium Format: Novella Publisher: InterMix Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: What if she wasn’t as powerful as they all said?
Jazz, the powerfully magical teen first introduced in Wickedly Powerful, is now being trained as a Baba Yaga—and she’s determined to free the Broken Riders herself.
Jazz had a rough life before meeting her guardian, and she knows she’s lucky that Bella is training her to be a Baba Yaga. But the gifted young witch is frustrated by the slow pace of her lessons. Jazz knows she’s capable of even greater magic, and she wants nothing more than to find a spell that will give the Riders back the immortality they lost.
With the reluctant assistance of Bella’s dragon-turned-cat Koshka, Jazz travels to the Otherworld to get the necessary ingredients to perform the spell. A willful young witch, dangerous magic, and one powerful wish—what could possibly go wrong?
Jazz was a fun introduction in Wickedly Powerful. She’s sassy, powerful and full of energy. The fact that there is a novella available that features her was kind of a welcome surprise. Although, it really wasn’t what I expected, and sadly, I read it before Dangerously Charming, which was kind of a mistake – after all, the acts in this take place after Mikhail Day’s story and it kind of had some spoilers.
Teenagers never do what they’re told – or at least, I know that I rarely did. If I was given an order, I needed to understand why, otherwise I’d merely take it as a suggestion. Which is kind of like Jazz. She is told not to play with higher powers again and again. But, because she doesn’t understand why Bella says these things, she’s a little more fluid in her adherence to the rulings. Which is why you can see that she’s going to get into trouble from a mile off. The trouble that she finds herself in is completely unexpected though. Actually, I was quite taken back by the results of her rebellion and I can’t wait to see how this factors into the greater series…
Title: Blood-Red Greens Author: Joel A. Sutherland In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Comedy, Easy reading, Fantasy Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Gallery Books Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: If we get caught we’ll be in big shit.
Errol and Randall decide to play their weekly game of golf together… in the middle of a zombie apocalypse!
I really wasn’t expecting a zombie apocalypse story when I started reading this. Mostly, I was expecting a vampire story. Or something about a vampire wanting salad… you know…
That’s not to say that I wasn’t pleasantly surprised. When you take a boring game like golf and add in psychotic zombies, I’m going to enjoy the tale. After all, there are so many theories about the zombie apocalypse, and adding in such an entertaining dose of humour just made this a short story that was almost impossible to put down.
The other thing I loved about this story is the way that it came full circle. It started with Errol and Randall playing a tedious game of golf… and ended with them playing the same silly game (can anyone tell that I don’t enjoy golfing?)
Title: I Was a Teenage Bigfoot
Title: Devil’s Contract
Title: Dangerously Divine
Title: Dangerously Charming
Title: Wickedly Spirited
